Snow-plow



(No Model.) Z'She'sts-Shee't 1.

W. I. WHEELER.

SNOW PLOW.

No. 568,507. Patented Sept. 29, 1896.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. P.-WHEBLER.

. SNOW PLOW Patented Sept. 29, 1896.

, UNITED STATES ATENT OFFrcE;

SNOW- PLOW.

SPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 568,507, dated September 29,- 1896.

Application filed May 11, 1896. Serial No. 591,028. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WARREN F. WHEELER, of Stoneham, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Snow Plows, which will, in connection with the accompanying drawings, be hereinafter fully described, and specifically defined in the appended claims.

My present invention relates to improvements upon the snow-plow described in Letters Patent of the United States issued to me April 24,1894, and numbered 518,749; and it consists in novel changes in construction whereby the plow is more easily raised and lowered and guided in its practical operations, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the plow as seen from a point to the left thereof, and shows all the changes in construction and additional de vices which constitute my present invention. Fig. 2 is an indirect longitudinal section taken vertically as on line Z Z, Fig. 1, and as viewed from the right of said line. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section taken as on line XX, Fig. 1.

The general construction of the plow is substantially the same as described in my said former patent, having the two runners B and B, the runners A and A of the inner sled being pivoted at their rear ends to the corresponding ends of the outer runners B and B by bolts 0 and O. The runner B carries upon its forward end the side F of the plow, the iron share D, and the upper curved shoe D, secured to the overhanging beam E, to which is attached, at one end, the draw-bar G. The plow also comprises the oblique side F, which is supported at its forward end upon runner B and at its rearward end upon runner B, and carries the hinged wing extension I. Sled B has a plank platform J, extending from runner B to runner B over and above sled A. Upon this platform are mounted the devices for spreading wing I. A long leverL is pivoted to a block L, which is bolted to the inner wall of side F, and a transverse lever M is pivoted to a block M, secured to side F. The fulcrums of these two levers rest upon the cross-planking or platform of the auxiliary sled A. Thus far the parts described, excepting said fulcrums, are substantially the same in construction and purpose as the like parts shown in my said former patent. now point out and describe a change in the construction and operation of the fulcrums of these two levers, which constitutes one part of my present invention. In my former patent the fulcrums consisted of fixed blocks, over which the levers acted when the plow was raised and lowered. In the present case these fulcrums consist of links L and M Link L is hinged both to the lever L and to the planking K on sled A, and link M is hinged in like manner to both lever M and to the plank K. By thus attaching to the levers and under sled movable fulcrums I reduce friction and gain an advantage which greatly lightens the effort required to raise the plow, and, besides, by the connection thus made between the levers so pivoted to the plow and the cross-planking of the under sled, I accomplish, through the links thus hinged to both parts, the additional purpose which was served by the chains shown and described in my former patent and am enabled to do away with the chains.

My other change in construction and improvement, which constitutes the chief feature of my present invention, relates to devices by which the driver of the plow may change the direction of the draft at will and thus lighten the labor of both the horse and driver, and also enable the driver to make a shorter turn around with the plow, and easier. When plowing the snow along the line of a fence, it often happens that the snow, by drifting, is deeper near the fence, and consequently the horse is inclined to keep away from the fence, making it a tedious effort to keep him reined up to the proper line for the plow to follow. I overcome this difficulty in the manner and by the means which I will now describe.

I employ a pair of shafts S, which I attach,

as shown, to an adjustable bar T, which is pivoted to draw-bar G bythe upturned end of a rod U, which passes upward through bar G and bar T. This rod U also serves as a brace or support to the draw-bar and extends backward through the oblique side F of the plow, and thence downward to runner B, to

I will which it is secured. Upon the opposite side of the plow a bent rod V is connected with an eyebolt in the edge of the bar T, as shown, and, extending backward, passes through a curved slot \V in side F and connects with a lever V, which is pivoted at its lower end to the inner face of side F. To lever V is pivoted a short finger-lever V, which is connected by a link or hook V to the bent arm of a locking pin or rod V, which is forced downward by an incased spring. (Not fully shown, but which is inclosed at V There is also upon the inner wall of sideFan arched and notched plate Y, (more clearly shown in Fig. 2,) with the notches of which the locking-pin V engages when not disengaged by grasping-lever V and pressing it toward lever V, which action will raise the pin against the force of its spring out of the notch, as is obvious from an inspection of the drawings. lVhen the pin is thus disengaged, the lever V may be pushed forward to or beyond another notch, which action will, through rod V, force the end of the bar T, to which the rod is thus attached, forward, turning on its pivot U. This will throw the shafts S around, as indicated by the dotted lines, to the extent that the bar T is thus moved. XVhen the lever V is thrown forward to its fullest extent, the plow may be easily turned short around. YVhen thrown forward to the extent of one or more notches, it will permit the horse to travel in a beaten path or where the snow is of less depth than closer to the fence, while the plow will guide up to the fence and into the depth of the snow, cleaning the same off the sidewalk and at the same time relieving the horse from wallowing and the driver from a tedious effort to drive him in a line which he is unwilling to travel.

\Vhen pin V is interlocked with either of the notches in plate Y, then it serves to hold bar T in adjustment and gives direction to the shafts accordingly.

The lever V is handily manipulated by the driver from. his stand on the platform of the sled. If a pair of horses is required, a pole or single shaft may be attached to bar T, as is obvious, it being immaterial whether one or two shafts are used, so far as the action of the devices for changing the direction of the draft is concerned.

I clai1nl. The combination with the body of a snowplow of a pivoted draw-bar; a shaft or shafts attached to the bar; an adjusting-rod jointed to the bar at or near one end thereof, and extended rearward therefrom and pivoted to an actuating-lever; an actuating-lever pivoted to the body of the plow and connected with the rearward end of said rod; and means for locking said lever in various positions; all substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. The combination of shafts S, attached to the pivot-ed bar T; bar T secured to the plow; rod V secured at one end to bar T and at its opposite end to lever V; lever V pivoted to the side of the plow; notched plate Y secured to the side of the plow; a spring-actuated pin V carried by lever V and arranged to interlock with plate Y; and lever V arranged to be manipulated with lever V so as to release the pin from plate Y; all substantially as and for the purposes spccified.

VARREN F. WHEELER. lVitnesses:

J OHN Q. ADAMS, EUGENE IIUMPHREY. 

